Foothill Ranch-based Wet Seal Inc. said Thursday that its same-store sales rose 29% in February, the 14th consecutive month of gains for the rebounding teen retailer.
Wet Seal said same-store sales rose 16% a year earlier. Total sales were $36.1 million.
Wet Seal’s February gains were smaller than comparable sales growth during the past several months. The company had been posting growth of more than 40% and 50% during the past year, but now faces more difficult comparisons following its year of improvement.
Rival chains fared much worse than Wet Seal in February, with Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Aeropostale Inc. and Anaheim-based Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. falling short of analyst expectations. One analyst called the month a “bloodbath” for most retailers.
During the four-week period ended February 25, the company opened one Wet Seal store and closed one location. It had a total of 308 Wet Seal stores and 92 Arden B. stores at recent check.
The company said Wednesday that Jennifer Pritchard, president of the company’s Arden B. unit, had resigned for personal reasons.
Arden B. was the bright spot for Wet Seal during the company’s struggles two years ago. The company shuttered more than 100 stores in its restructuring,all operating under the Wet Seal name.
